Astros outfielder Nori Aoki is rising to occasions from low in the lineup

Published 7:23 pm, Monday, April 17, 2017

Offseason outfield acquisition Nori Aoki was a hit in his first at-bat as an Astro, singling off Mariners ace Felix Hernandez in the third inning.

Offseason outfield acquisition Nori Aoki was a hit in his first at-bat as an Astro, singling off Mariners ace Felix Hernandez in the third inning.

Photo: Karen Warren, Staff Photographer

Image 2 of 3

Nori Aoki, Astros

Nori Aoki, Astros

Photo: Robert Binder, Stringer

Image 3 of 3

Nori Aoki rapped three singles in his first two games with the Astros.

Nori Aoki rapped three singles in his first two games with the Astros.

Photo: Karen Warren, Staff Photographer

Astros outfielder Nori Aoki is rising to occasions from low in the lineup

1 / 3

Back to Gallery

After seeming like a modest offseason addition to deepen the Astros' lineup, Nori Aoki has proven more capable than a platoon player and more productive than a bottom-of-the-order hitter through 12 games for the Astros (8-4).

The 35-year-old left-hander is 9-for-24 (.375), with one home run and a smattering of singles. He made his most prominent contributions during the last two games, a pair of comeback victories over the Oakland Athletics.

"His strength's really fits his spot on our team," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "He can be a catalyst at the bottom of the lineup and when he gets on base he can create a lot of havoc for us in front of the top of our order."

A Japanese outfielder who often utilizes a translator in the clubhouse for media and the dugout for teammates, Aoki has revealed more of his personality, too.

Batting in the No. 8 slot, Aoki led off the fifth inning on Friday with his first home run of the season. After the ball plunked into empty right field seats at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Aoki rounded third with a wide grin.

"It shows I'm becoming part of the team," Aoki said. "Those are the moments that I have fun playing baseball."

A leaping Jose Altuve greeted Aoki before the dugout steps with a high five and slap on the helmet.

"It seems like when he's playing, he never takes it for granted," Altuve said. "This is what makes this lineup so special....It doesn't matter where [Astros batters] are hitting, one to nine, they're going to do something for the team."

Hinch smiled when he described how Aoki, usually so quiet, took his celebration one effusive step farther: the lithe, 5-8, 180-lb.-veteran flexed his muscles for teammates.

"He's enjoying it," Hinch said. "That's not...his norm."

The Astros signed Aoki in November to a one-year contract worth $5.5 million. Although he is a lifetime .305-hitter against left-handed pitchers, the far majority of his starts this season were expected to come against righties, who he damages more.

Aoki has not thrived in 12 plate appearances against lefties this season, but Hinch has favored him in three starts against southpaws. Hinch said he bases some narrow lineup decisions on a player's swing path and ability to make contact. Aoki has excelled in those criteria.

"Aoki's got a terrific bat-to-ball skill," Hinch said. "He's going to put the ball in play. He's a tough guy to strike out. That's going to be his calling card."

Aoki played Saturday over Josh Reddick and went 2-for-4, with a run scored and two runs batted in during a stretch in which the Astros scored 10 runs in the final four innings to win 10-6.

Hinch does not want his team to make a habit of falling behind in games, but he appreciates the resiliency.

"It does remind our guys that we're never out of it," Hinch said of the comeback victories. "There's some endearing qualities to this team having no quit in them."

"Even though currently I'm hitting eighth, ninth, I think of it as passing it along to our leadoff hitter," Aoki said.

His hot hitting aside, Aoki revealed his largest weakness on Saturday in left field. He overran a hard-hit line drive from lefty Jaff Decker, which led to a triple. Aoki attempted to catch the ball on a short-hop, but it skipped up his arm, ricocheted off his side and skidded to the warning track of Oakland's cavernous outfield. Decker would score on a sac fly. Reading the fast liner better or approaching it conservatively would have held Decker to a single.

A misstep like that can be overcome with quality at-bats. For now, Aoki consistently is setting up the young crop of hitters that follow him when the lineup turns over.

When asked if the Astros' core makes him feel old at 35, Aoki perked up at the notion.

He ran his hands down his physique and answered without the aid of a translator: "I look young."